FTBOA STAKES SURE TO SPICE UP DERBY DAY; CAMACHO EN FUEGO, AS THEY SAY

By Mike Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – In addition to its simulcast of the 144th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and six other graded stakes from Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5, Tampa Bay Downs will introduce a pair of new $100,000 stakes for 3-year-olds.

Both the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings and the $100,000 FTBOA Ivanavinalot Florida Sire Stakes for fillies will add additional spice to the traditional Run for the Roses festivities.

Both races, which are for FTBOA-registered Florida-bred sophomores sired by FTBOA-registered stallions which are FSS-eligible, will be contested at a distance of a mile-and-40-yards on the main track.

Nominations were released today. Heading the FTBOA Silver Charm FSS list is Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables’ colt World of Trouble, who finished third in the Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 10 after a smashing 13 ¾-length victory in the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 20. World of Trouble is trained by Jason Servis.

Also nominated are Old Time Revival, who finished second in the Grade III Gotham Stakes on March 10 at Aqueduct; 2-year-old stakes winner Wildcat’s Legacy; and The X, who finished third in the Florida Cup DRF Bets Sophomore Turf Stakes here on March 25.

First Dudette, who stepped up in company on April 7 in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, finishing sixth, is among the FTBOA Ivanavinalot FSS nominees. The Brian Koriner-trainee has been first or second in her four other starts.

Other nominees include Florida Fuego, who won the Florida Cup Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes; multiple stakes winner Starship Bonita; stakes winner Silver Bay; and four-time winner Passion Plus.

Those races will help serve as a suitable buildup for the most exciting two minutes in sports, with four horses that have competed at Tampa Bay Downs this season expected to be part of a 20-horse field of 3-year-olds for the mile-and-a-quarter classic, the first leg of the Triple Crown.

That quartet includes Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip; Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes winner and Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Flameaway; unbeaten Magnum Moon, who won an allowance/optional claiming race here on Feb. 15 and has since won the Grade II Rebel Stakes and Grade I Arkansas Derby; and Vino Rosso, who won an allowance-optional claiming race here on Dec. 22 and finished third in the Sam F. Davis and fourth in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby before winning the Grade II Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct.

Available reserved seating on Kentucky Derby Day at the Oldsmar oval is limited to Grandstand seats at $10 each. All other seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fans may reserve seats by visiting www.tampabaydowns.com on the Internet and clicking the “PREMIER DAY TICKETS” icon.
Mint juleps will be sold in commemorative Kentucky Derby glasses.

Call (813) 855-4401 for additional details on the Kentucky Derby Day celebration at the Oldsmar oval.

Around the oval. With three victories today, Samy Camacho extended his streak of winning days at Tampa Bay Downs to 15 while raising his total for the meeting to 87. He has 35 victories over the 15-day span.

Camacho rode five mounts, with three of his horses scratched after Saturday’s rain forced track officials to switch four races from the turf to the main track.

The rider captured the second race on Petipa, a 3-year-old filly bred and owned by Pia M. Kirkham and trained by Gerald Bennett. He added the sixth race aboard 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Barefoot Cove, who won her third in a row for owners Palm Beach Racing and Arboritanza Racing and trainer Joseph Arboritanza.

Camacho also won the seventh, the Cody’s Original Roadhouse Race of the Week, on 6-year-old mare Balada for owner Long Trail Stables and trainer Juan C. Gotera.

Camacho has won three or more races five times during his extended hot streak, including a five-victory performance on April 7.

Mike Allen rode two winners. His first came in the third race on K D’s Cat Bird, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Doris Arterburn and Chris Kuhn and trained by Lonnie Arterburn. Allen added the ninth and final race aboard Don’s Beach, a 3-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Algarcon Stables and trained by Lisa Allen, the jockey’s wife.

It was the first career training victory for Lisa Allen.

Thoroughbred racing continues Wednesday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:35 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs conducts racing each Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 6, with the exception of May 2.

Sunday, May 6 is Fan Appreciation Day at Tampa Bay Downs, with free parking and free Grandstand admission and discounted prices on draft beers, sodas and Nathan’s Hot Dogs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thoroughbred racing will return to the Oldsmar oval on June 30 and July 1, dates which make up the track’s annual “Summer Festival of Racing.” The June 30 card is the official final day of the 2017-2018 meeting, while the July 1 program is the first day of the 2018-2019 season, expected to then resume in late November.

Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits poker action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.